Troubleshooting and Known Problems

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If the converter isn't working for you, you're in the right place. It's far from perfect, and there are some things that might not work properly. Please contact me if you've read this and you're still having trouble.

The converter doesn't load or displays an error.

You may not have a working Flash Player. Try downloading it from here. If you see an alert about a security risk or outdated Flash player, allow it to run.

The converted file is an unknown type or can't open.

Make sure to save your file with a SWF extension so that your computer can tell what type of file it is. For example, name the project Game.swf when you save it. Once you do that, try opening it in a browser or a standalone Flash Player (download the projector version).

Converted projects can't communicate with Scratch server.

Things such as the username block and Cloud Variables will not work. If you want to make a project that relies on these, it usually makes the most sense to share it on the Scratch website.

Saving doesn't work in Chrome incognito mode.

Due to a bug in Google Chrome, if you try to use the converter in incognito mode, you can't save the converted SWF file. Please switch to a non-incognito window or a different browser.

White screen while project loads.

Sometimes a converted project will show a white screen for a few seconds while the project loads, especially on slow connections or complex projects. If a project still doesn't load after a minute or so, you might be missing a Flash Player or experiencing a different bug (see below).

White bar on the bottom or right side of the SWF.

The Scratch stage is a 4:3 ratio, which can't be easily changed. Please adjust the dimensions of the SWF file so the stage fits properly into the window.

Converted projects don't load in newer versions of Flash Player.

Adobe has changed the security restrictions in Flash Player 23 and onwards. They basically prevent local SWF files (saved on your computer) from being able to use some Loader functions that Scratch needs. I can't workaround this, but you can bypass it by hosting your SWF file on a website or converting it to an application. This will bypass the security restriction by making the SWF no longer be a local-with-network file. See this page for more info on converting SWF files to standalone executables for your platform.